Leasho Johnson
Biography
Leasho Johnson, The man disguised as night (Anansi #29), 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Mariane Ibrahim.
Leasho Johnson (b. 1984 in Montego Bay, Jamaica; lives and works in Chicago, IL) creates art that explores the intersections of Black queer identity, Caribbean folklore, and post-colonial narratives. His practice combines hand-crafted pigments, charcoal, and stenciling to produce dynamic compositions that blur abstraction and figuration. Drawing from Jamaican cultural heritage and mythology, especially the character of Anansi, Johnson navigates and expresses complexities of identity, self-expression, and historical memory. His work is known for its sensual intensity and its challenge to traditional representations, offering a space to exist beyond predefined definitions.
Johnson earned his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has participated in prestigious residencies, including the Ruby Cruel Residency in London (2023) and the Fountainhead Residency in Miami (2022). His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in notable collections such as the Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto, Canada), the National Gallery of Jamaica (Kingston, Jamaica), and the Pérez Art Museum Miami (Miami, Florida).
The artist’s work is currently on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago as part of Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón, which runs through September 2026. His forthcoming solo exhibition will open at our Paris space in June 2026.
Exhibitions
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Leasho Johnson
I am a place as much as I am a flavour June 13 - 25, 2026 Paris -
Leasho Johnson
Escaping the tyranny of meaning August 30 - October 26, 2024 ChicagoMariane Ibrahim is pleased to present Escaping the tyranny of meaning , a solo exhibition of new work by Leasho Johnson, on view from August 30 until October 26, 2024....Read more
Artworks
Perplexity of the consumed (Anansi # 38), 2026
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